Also see: A Calendar of Resources: Advent December 1st The Feast of St. Edmund Campion (d. 1581) priest, martyr Edmund Campion: Hero of God's Underground by Fr. Harold C. Gardiner, S.J. Edmund Campion by Evelyn Waugh (Ignatius Press) Read online: "The Capture of Campion" by Evelyn Waugh The Catholic Encyclopedia on St. Edmund Campion Biography of St. Edmund Campion from the Patron Saints Index December 3rd Feast of St. Francis Xavier (1552) priest and missionary Saint Francis of the Seven Seas by Albert Nevins (Vision Series) Biography of Saint Francis Xavier from the Patron Saints Index December 5th In History: Prohibition Ends 1933 Famous Birthdays: Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876) Rose Wilder Lane (1996-1968) Walt Disney (1901-1966) December 6th The Feast of Saint Nicholas Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa (CCC Animated Video) Available from Emmanuel Books St. Nicholas and the Golden Bars is one version of the story of Saint Nicholas' legendary generosity. This story can be found on pages 763-765 of the Book of Virtues edited by William Bennett. Santa Claus Paper Dolls in Full Color by Tom Tierney This set of paper dolls is beautifully done and neat, not just for playing, but seeing the progression of traditions regarding Saint Nicholas with beautiful illustrations of what people thought he looked like from different eras and cultures. Unfortunately some of these traditions have moved farther and farther away from the original. The descriptions for each "doll" include information about each "version" of St. Nicholas. Available from Dover Publications. The "O Night Divine" Blog has reviews of numerous books on St. Nicholas here Websites relating to Saint Nicholas: St. Nicholas Center Catholic Encyclopedia In History: First edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica is published (1768) Famous Birthdays: Joyce Kilmer (1886) read his poem "Trees" December 7th The Feast of St. Ambrose (d. 397), Bishop and Doctor of the Church The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on St. Ambrose Biography of Saint Ambrose from the Patron Saints Index In History: U.S. declares war on Austria-Hungary (1917) link Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) link The government of the Republic of China begins move from Nanking to Taipei during Chinese Civil War Famous Birthdays: Willa Cather (1873-1947) link December 8th The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Holy Day of Obligation The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on the Immaculate Conception regarding the doctrine and the origin of the feast. In History: Pope Pius IX proclaims the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (1854) Famous Birthdays: Horace (65BC-8BC) Roman poet Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587) Eli Whitney (1765-1825) inventor link Padraic Colum (b. 1881), writer link James Thurber (1894-1961), writer link December 9th Feast of Saint Juan Diego In History: Lech Walesa elected president of Poland Famous Birthdays: John Milton (1608-1674) English author Claude Louise Berthollet (1748-1822) chemist link December 10th In History: Statehood for Mississippi (1817) Wyoming becomes first state to allow women to vote (1869) Treaty signed ending Spanish-American War (1898) Famous Birthdays: George MacDonald (1824-1905), writer link Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), poet see: Into Deep Eternity link Rumer Godden (1907-1998), writer link December 11th In History: Statehood for Indiana (1816) Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S. (1941) Famous Birthdays: Hector Berlioz (1803), composer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918), writer December 12th Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531) The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie de Paola Click here for Book Review Domestic Church's page on Our Lady of Guadalupe Website on Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on the Shrine of Guadalupe EWTN Article on Our Lady of Guadalupe and the status of her feast as a Solemnity in the Americas "A Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe" Ideas for Celebration from O Night Divine In History: Marconi transmits first radio transmission across the Atlantic (1901) Fr. Flanagan founds Boystown in Nebraska (1917) 2000 U.S. Presidential election (Bush vs. Gore) is decided in Supreme Court December 13th Feast of Saint Lucy (d. 304), Virgin and Martyr Swedish and Sicilian Traditions for St. Lucy's Day (including recipes) The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Lucy O Night Divine: St. Lucy of Syracuse In History: Council of Trent begins (1545) December 14th Feast of Saint John of the Cross (d. 1591), Priest and Doctor of the Church The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint John of the Cross Biography of Saint John of the Cross from the Patron Saints Index In History: Statehood for Alabama (1819) First telegraph cable laid across Pacific Ocean (1902) link, link map Roald Amundsen reaches South Pole (1911) bio Iraq gains independence from U.K. (1932) article Famous Birthdays: Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), astronomer bio December 15th Famous Birthdays: Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923), architect December 16th In History: Boston Tea Party (1773) article eyewitness account Battle of the Bulge begins (1944) Famous Birthdays: Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), first wife of King Henry VIII, daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain Jane Austen (1775-1817), writer December 17th In History: "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens is first published (1843) read online The Wright Brothers first flight (1903) link Malmedy Massacre, World War II (1944) (film: Saints and Soldiers) Famous Birthdays: Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827), composer link December 18th In History: 13th Amendment passed, slavery abolished in the U.S. (1865) link December 19th In History: Washington's troops go into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pensylvania (1777) related stories: Silver for General Washington by Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft and Winter of the Red Snow by Kristiana Gregory December 20th In History: Louisiana Purchase completed (1803) December 24th Christmas Eve The Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke December 25th Christmas Day - Celebration of the birth of Jesus Please click here for our page on Christmas Stories O Holy Night! Masterworks of Christmas Poetry edited by Johann M. Moser 1995, Sophia Institute Press, 142 pp, hardcover The Christmas Book by Francis X. Weiser, S.J. 1952, Neumann Press, 188 pages, hardcover, Catholic A very nice, Catholic presentation of the celebration of Advent and Christmas - the origin, customs hymns, stories and much more. The book also includes suggestions for bringing the Christian significance back to some of the customs that have lost their original meaning over time. Related websites: The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Christmas In History: Coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor (800) St. Francis of Assisi assembles the first Nativity Scene (1223) George Washington and Army cross the Delaware in Trenton, New Jersey (1776) World War I Christmas Truce (1914) Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as president of the Soviet Union (1991) Other Famous Birthdays: Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), composer Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), physicist and mathematician Clara Barton (1821-1912), founder of the American Red Cross December 26th Feast of Saint Stephen (d. 36) Martyr The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Stephen Biography of Saint Stephen from the Patron Saints Index December 27th Feast of Saint John the Evangelist (d. 100) Apostle The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint John Saint John by Alfred Noyes (author of The Secret of Pooduck Island) Biography of Saint John from the Patron Saints Index December 28th Feast of the Holy Innocents The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on the Holy Innocents December 29th Feast of Saint Thomas Becket (d. 1170) Bishop, Martyr Click here to see our page of St. Thomas Becket page Bibliography: Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913 The Essentials of Music Patron Saints Index Wikipedia
